Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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501. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new unmarked Garda cars and vans that were assigned to Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the number of these vehicles that were withdrawn from the Bureau during the same period. [61281/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase and distribution of Garda resources such as Garda vehicles. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of identified operational needs and emerging crime trends.

Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. Very significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including the provision for a capital budget of €147 million for An Garda Síochána’s ICT and Building Programme and ongoing investment in the organisation’s transport fleet. An Garda Síochána, recognising the need to be visible and accessible in communities but also conscious of taking proactive actions to reduce their carbon footprint, will purchase an additional 100 mountain bikes and increased numbers of electrical vehicles as part of an overall fleet management strategy.

I am informed that 5 unmarked cars were allocated to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in 2020 and 3 unmarked cars to date in 2021. I am further informed that no unmarked vehicles have been removed from GNIB fleet in 2020 or to date in 2021.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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502. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who successfully completed the advanced motorcycle course in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the duration of this course. [61282/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda training matters. I, as Minister, have no role in such matters.

I have been provided with the figures in the table below by the Garda authorities, which outlines the number of Gardaí who completed the advanced motorcycle course in 2020 and to date in 2021. I have also included the pre-pandemic figure for 2019 for the Deputy's information. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the course is ten days in duration.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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503. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are plans to have high powered unmarked vehicles attached to Garda armed support unit fleet. [61283/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes the allocation of resources to the various Garda divisions/specialised units. As Minister I play no role in this independent function. Further, under the Act, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for An Garda Síochána and is responsible for the appropriations accounts of the Garda Síochána.

I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised of the following information in order to answer the Deputy's query.

Currently there are no plans to purchase unmarked vehicles for the Garda armed support unit. No high-powered unmarked vehicles have been allocated to the Garda armed support unit in 2021.

The purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.